Our material world

Materials are all around us. From the chips in our mobile phones to the components of a car engine; from the casing of a paracetamol capsule to the nanostructures to store hydrogen in tomorrow’s cars, understanding what ‘stuff’ is made of is crucial to knowing how it will function.

Facilities like ISIS and the Central Laser Facility study materials at the atomic level, allowing scientists to understand the precise structure of man made and natural materials, from aeroplane wings to proteins.